Personal timer



Dec. 22, 1959 A. H. BLY ErAL PERSONAL TIMER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 30, 1957 'av @waff/dfb,

Trop/ver.:

1959 A. H. BLY UAL 2,917,392 v PERSONAL TIMER Filed Aug.' 30, .1957 2y Sheets-Sheet 2 lll/'r '4'4 Illllll 'IIIIIII, PIII A Il'. Ill/II 'I 'IIIIIII 'IIIIIIIII United States Patent O PERSONAL TIMER Austin H. Bly and Everett-E. Elliott, Colorado Springs, Colo.

Application August '30, 1957, Serial No. 681,203 y 1 Claim. (Cl. `Sil-21.13)

This invention relates to timing devices, and more particularly to a timing device adapted to be carried by a person and arranged to be set to provide a vibrating audible alarm after a designated time interval.

A main object of the invention is-to provide a novel and vimproved personal timer which is simple in construction, which is `compact in size, and which is adapted" to be worn or carried by a person and to provide avibrating or audible alarm` after a designated time interval.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved personal timer Which is inexpensive to manufacture, which is durable in construction, which is neat in appearance, and which is easy to set.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent yfrom the following description and claims, and from the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of an improved personal timer constructed in accordance with the present invention and shown connected to a Wristband so that it may be carried by a person in the same manner as a conventional wristwatch.

Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the timer of Figure l.

Figure 3 is a rear elevational view of the timer of Figures 1 and 2.

Figure 4 is a longitudinal vertical cross-sectional view taken on the line 4 4 of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is'a horizontal cross-sectional view taken on the line 5 5 of Figure 4.

Figure 6 is an enlarged fragmentary horizontal crosssectional view similar to Figure 5 and showing the portiJns of the timer located adjacent to the indicating scale thereof.

Figure 7 is a vertical cross-sectional view taken on the line 7 7 of Figure 6.

vFigure 8 is a vertical crosssectional view similar to Figure 7 but showing the alarm detent element in releasing position.

Figure 9 is an enlarged cross-sectional detail view taken on the line 9 9 of Figure 6.

Figure 10 is an enlarged cross-sectional detail view taken on the line 1 10 of Figure 6.

Figure 11 is a vertical cross-sectional view taken on the line 11 11 of Figure l0.

Figure 12 is a crosssectional view similar to Figure 11 but showing the manner in which the pawl element of the indicating lever may be moved past the teeth of the ratchet member to set the timer.

Referring to the drawings, the personal timer is designated generally at 13 and comprises a relatively flat casing 14 having a top wall 15, a bottom wall 16, and a peripheral wall 17. The bottom wall 16 is provided Awith a pair of strap loops 18, 18 adapted to be engaged with a conventional wristwatch strap 19, in the manner shown in Figure 4, whereby the timer may be worn inv the manner of a conventional wristwatch. The bottom ice wall 16 is further provided with a fountain pen clip 20 so that, if so desired, the timer may be clipped to a persons clothing or to any other article carried by the person, such as a wallet, or other similar article, or may be fastened to any other desired object.

l The top wall 15 is provided with a depending peripheral flange 23 which is removably engaged witllin the upper marginal portion of the peripheral wall 17, so that the top wall 15 may at times be removed to provide access to the interior of the casing 14.

The casing 14 is provided with an arcuate peripheral end wall portion 14.

Mounted in the casing 14 is a frame 24 comprising a pair of parallel support plates/25 and 26 between which is mounted a conventional clockwork mechanism 27. Designated at 21 is a time-indicating lever which is pivoted to a post member 22 secured'between the frame plates 25 and 26, the lever 21 projecting outwardly through a slot 28 formed in'an end portion of the pe ripheral wall 17 of the casing 14.

Secured to the end portionof the casing adjacent to the slot 28 is an arcuate scale plate 29 provided at its margin with a time scale 30. The lever 21 is formed at its outer end with a generally U-shaped end portion 32 which curves around the outer edge of the arcuate scale plate 29 and is formed at its top portion with an index pointer 33 overlying the time scale 30, as is clearly shown in Figures 5 and 6.

A coiled spring 34 is connected between a depending pin element 3S on the lever .21 and a stationary pin 36 secured to and projecting upwardly from the bottom frame plate 25, biasing the lever 21 in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Figure 5, namely, toward a normal position abutting the zero end of the slot 28, as shown at 37 in Figure 6, in which position the index element 33 on the lever overlies the zero mark on the time scale 30.

The lever 21 is rigidly secured to a sleeve 38 which is rotatably mounted on the bearing pin 22, and underlying said sleeve is the relatively large gear 39 whiohz couples the lever 21 to the clockwork mechanism 27. The clockwork mechanism 27 is of a conventional nature and includes an escapernent member 40 and inner spring 46, cooperating with a balance wheel 45, in a manner well known to those skilled in the art. The clockwork mechanism 27 is thus coupled to the gear 39 to allow said gear to rotate at a predetermined rate when driven by the lever 21 in a manner presently to be described.

` As previously stated, the large gear 39 is located be low the lever 21 and is pivotally mounted on the bearing pin 22. The gear 39 is formed with a circularly arranged upstanding ratchet teeth 50, arranged concen trically around the bearing pin 22 and engaged by a depending pawl member 48 hinged to the lever 21 and eX- tending through a rectangular notch 49 formed in one side marginal portion of the lever, as shown in Figures 6, 11 and l2. The pawl member 48 is spring biased in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in Figures 1l and 12, by a suitable hinge spring, not shown, whereby the pawl member 48 is biased against the inside wall of the notch 49. The ratchet teeth 50 have sloping surfaces extending upwardly and to the right, as viewed in Figures l1 and 12, namely, in the direction of counterclockwise rotation of the lever 21, as viewed in Figures 5 and 6. Thus, when the lever is rotated from its zero position to a designated position along the time scale 29, the spring 34 is placedvunder tension and the depending pawl member 48 is urged against the vertical wall of one of the ratchet teeth 50, to transmit the force of spring 34 to the large gear 39 and, to thus urge said large gear in a clock;

Wise direction, as viewed in Figures 5 and 6. The gear 39 is thus rotated by the energy stored up inthe spring 34, rotation of the gear 39 being regulated by the clockwise mechanism 27, so that the lever 31 returns toward its starting position at a timed rate established by the clockwork mechanism 27.

Rotatably mounted on the bearing pin 22 above the gear 39 is a sector gear 6d formed with a radially projecting arm portion 61 extending through the upper portion 62 of the slot formed in the peripheral wall of casing 14, said upper portion 62 being a part of the main slot 2S. The upper portion 62 of the slot is relatively short as compared with the major portion of the main slot, whereby the rotation of the sector gear 6i) is limited to a smaller angle than the maximum rotation allowed for the lever 21.

The arm 61 is provided with an upturned lug portion 63 at its outer end, whereby the arm 61 may be manually rotated to set the alarm mechanism of the timer, as will be presently described.

A leaf spring 64 is anchored at one end to the top frame plate 26, as shown at 65, and bears on the edge of the sector gear et? at its other end, as shown in Figure 5, biasing the sector gear 60 in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Figure 5. The leaf spring 64 thus urges the sector gear 6i? clockwise to a position wherein the arm 61 abuts against the zero end of the slot portion 62.

Designated at 66 is an oscillatory alarm member cornprising a pivoted arm which is provided at its end with a hammer element 67 and which is positioned so that the hammer element may strike the peripheral Wall of the casing 14 responsive to rotation of the arm 66. The arm 66 is provided at the end thereof opposite the hammer 67 with an escapement member 68 (Fig. 5) which is engageable by a toothed pinion wheel 69. The pinion wheel 69 is in meshing engagement with the relatively large sector gear 6i?, so as to be rotated thereby responsive to the clockwise rotation of the sector gear, as viewed in Figure 5. As will be readily apparent, when the sector gear 60 rotates clockwise toward the zero position, the pinion wheel 69 is rotated, causing the alarm member 66 to oscillate and causing the hammer 67 to repeatedly strike against the peripheral wall `17 of the casing, providing an audible vibratory signal.

The top frame plate 26 is formed with an arcuate slot 70 which underlies the arm 61 and which is traversed by said arm as the sector gear 61) rotates clockwise. Pivoted in the slot 74) for rotation on an axis parallel to the plane of movement of arm 61 and substantially radial to the arcuate end wall portion 14' is the arcuate detent lever 7,1, said detent lever being adjacent and parallel to said arcuate end wall portion 14 and being pivoted in the slot at its midportion, as shown at 72. At one end thereof the lever is provided with an upwardly extending lug element 73 and at its opposite end the lever is provided with a depending triangular lug element 74, whereby said lug elements are movable in directions substantially perpendicular to said plane of movement of arm 61 responsive to rotation of detent lever 71. A leaf spring 7 S, secured to the bottom surface of the top frame plate 26 bears against the detent lever 71 subjacent the triangular detent lug 73 thereof, as shown in Figure S, biasing the lever il in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in Figure S, the lug 73 being biased upwardly toward a position wherein it obstructs the return movement of the arm 6l after the arm has been rotated to the position thereof shown in Figure 5. he triangular lug 74 extends downwardly in the path of return movement 'of the indicating lever 2i, and is engageable by said lever 21, as's'hown'in Figure 8, as the lever 21 returns to its zero positionln using the device, the indicating lever 2.1 is rotated in a counterclockwise direction, as viewedfin Figure 5, to bring the index element 33 above a designated time value on the scale 3). The arm 61 is rotated in a counterclockwise direction against the force of the leaf spring 64 until said arm moves past and is lockingly engaged by the upwardly extending triangular lug 73 on the detent lever 71. rFhe Ycoiled spring 34 then drives the indicating lever 21 in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Figures 5 and 6, urging the lever to return toward the zero position. The return movement of the lever 21 is regulated by the clockwork mechanism 27 in the manner above described, and after the designated time period, the lever 21 reaches its zero position, whereby it engages the depending lug 74', rotating detent lever 71 in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Figures 7 and 8, thus causing the lug 73 to slip below the arm '61. This releases the sector gear 60, and allows the leaf spring 64 to drive the sector gear clockwise, as viewed in Figure 5, causing the pinion wheel 69 to actuate the escapement member 68 and oscillate the arm 66, producing the vibratory audible signal caused by the periodic impact of the hammer 67 against the peripheral wall 17 of the timer casing.

A stop lug is provided on the end of lever 71 adjacent the depending triangular lug 74, the stop lug 80 being engageable with the top frame plate 26 to limit the counterclockwise rotation of the lever 71 to the position thereof shown in Figure 7, under the biasing force of the leaf spring 75.

As will be readily understood, the timer may be employed to provide a signal when a designated time period has elapsed, for example, a parking time limit, or other designated time period, notifying the person concerned of the elapse of said designated time.

The ratchet teeth 59 may be formed on the gear 39 in any suitable manner, for example, may be die stamped on the gear wheel 39.

While a specific embodiment of an improved personal timer device has been disclosed in the foregoing description, it will be understood that various modifications within the spirit of the invention may occur to those skilled in the art. Therefore, it is intended that no limitations be placed on the invention except as delined by the scope of the appended claim.

What is claimed is:

A personal timer comprising a relatively ilat casing adapted to be carried by a person and having an arcuate end wall portion provided with an elongated slot, an indicating lever pivoted in the casing for movement parallel to the plane of the casing and extending through said slot, a time scale secured externally to said casing and extending along said slot adjacent the external end of said lever, spring means connected between the lever and the casing biasing the lever toward a normal position adjacent one end of said slot, a clockwork mechanism in said casing, means coupling the lever to said clockwork mechanism, said mechanism being formed and arranged to regulate the return movement of said lever toward said normal position after it has been rotated to a designated position on said time scale, an oscillatory alarm member in the casing, escapement means drivingly coupled to said alarm member, a rotary drive member mounted for rotation in a plane parallel to the plane of movement of said lever and drivingly coupled to said escapement means, a spring mounted in the casing and bearing on said rotary drive member, means to rotate said drive member to a position to tension said spring, an arcuate detent lever disposed adjacent to and parallel to said arcuate end wall portion and pivoted thereto on an axis parallel to the plane of movement of said indicating lever and substantially radial to said arcuate end wall portion, said arcuate detent lever being located between the planes of movement of the indicating lever and the drive member, a detent lug on one end portion of the detent lever lockingly engageable with said drive member, and a cam element on the other end portion of the detent lever cammingly engageable by the indicating lever when said indicating lever returns to said normal position, to rotate said detent lever in a .direction to disengage said detent lug 5 i 6 from the drive member, whereby to allow said drive 1,461,964 Bland July 17, 1923 member to oscillate said alarm member. 2,593,191 Rockola Apr. 15, 1952 2,599,881 Woodru June 10, 1952 .References Cited m 11 file 0f 11S Iatent 2,604,753 Dnenbach et a1 July 29, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENTS 5 2,618,371 Broussard Nov. 18, 1952 1,158,282 Porter Oct. 26, 1915 

